dust emissions from strong winds), IID has petitioned California State Water Resources Control Board asking that this governing board initiate negotiations between the QSA parties and the state to develop a plan to restore the sea, meeting the state's obligation. Pacific Institute, an Oakland-based environmental think tank, had issued a report stating that the lack of replenishment water to the sea was leading to a "period of very rapid deterioration." With the increased shrinkage, they predicted that dust storms would increase and a rotten-egg smell could reach to the coastal cities. Settlement for blackout On Sept. 8, 2011, an estimated 5 million people suffered a temporary loss of electricity from Arizona to San Diego and into parts of Mexico. All utilities involved in providing energy to the affected areas were investigated by NERC and FERC. While not admitting any wrongdoing, in 2014 IID agreed to a $12 million settlement with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, bringing to a close the federal probe into the events surrounding the outage. Most of the money IID had been fined ($9 million) will be directly invested into the IID electric system to strengthen and enhance its system. The district has committed to a number of physical improvements that will result in a stronger system and, in combination with the Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan, which is under consideration by the California Energy Commission, will provide greater export of renewable energy capability to the larger western grid. Officials IID is led by an elected five-member board of directors who represent divisions in the water service area. IID is advised by the public through citizen cooperation on the Water Conservation Advisory Board and the Energy Consumers Advisory Board. ECAC consists of representatives of both the Imperial and Coachella valley served by the Energy Department. See also Colorado River Irrigation Company Imperial Land Company References External links Official Imperial Irrigation District website Imperial Valley Irrigation Districts of the United States Government of Imperial County, California Water management authorities in California Agriculture in California Coachella Valley Lower Colorado River Valley 1911 establishments in California Government agencies established in 1911